Controlling mechanism for laundry-machines



T. BIRKENMAIER.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LAUNDRY MA-CHlN-ES.

APPLICATION FILED EUNE 2511917\ 1,374,810. Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. 7

7/!500 ORE BIRIfI/Y/YA use,

T. BIRKENMAIER.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LAUNDRYMACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25,1917.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

I Ra-apex: BIAAE/YMA AER} PATENT OFF-ICE.

THEODORE BIRIKENMAIEB,

OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CONTROLLING mnonamsm ron LAUNDRY-MACHINES.-

' T all whom cit-may concern Be it known that I, THEODORE BIRKEN- MAIER, a. citizen of the United States, and

- residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have inin tub, the mechanism should,

vented new and useful Improvements in Controlling Mechanism for Laundry-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This. invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly to mechanisms for automatically controlling the period of operation of such machines. This invention is an improvement on the machine shown and described in my Patent Number In the machine disclosed in the patent referred to, automatic controlling mechanism is provided, embodying mechanism which operates aftera predetermined laundrying operation to open the drain and thereafter shift the reversing mechanism to neutral position to stop the machine. In order to control the mechanism in accordance with the operation of the laundrying mechanism,

of course, be drlven from the drum shaft. Since, however, the drums of different machines operate at different speeds and different laundrying machines have different trains of mechanism, it is necessary that this timingmechanism be accommodated to the particular laundrying mechanism, both in speed and in mechanical arrangement.

- One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide controlling mechanism having provisions for adjusting the relation between the laundrying and controlling mechanisms.

Another object is to improve the construction of the controlling mechanism, so as to simplify its operation and cheapen its cost of manufacture.

Another object is to provide novel signaling mechanism which will signal to the operator when the operation on a lot of clothes in the machine nears completion.

Further objects will appear from the detail description taken in connection Withthe accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a washing. machine, showing the con-.

trolling mechanism embodying this invention' I 2 is a plan of Fig. 1;

'Fig. 3 is an end elevation;

Specification of Letters Patent.

such as the drum of a laundry- Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

Application filed June 25, 1917. Serial No. 176,901.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the j line F g- F g. 5 iS a, detail front elevation of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 s an enlarged detail of Fig. 2, showing the signaling mechanism;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of Fig. 6; and,

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88, Fig. 6..

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1t Wlll be seen that the washing machine, which-is of the type in general use, comprises a cylindrical water and suds receiv: mg tub '1, mounted on end supports 2-, contam ng a rotary washing drum adapted to receive the clothes or fabrics, and sustained for rotation in the tub by means of trunnions 4, journaled in the end walls of the tuli tand in suitable bearings on the sup po A drive shaft 6 is sustained in suitable bearings, and th1s dnve shaft carries loose and comprising a pinion 13 on the drive shaft 6, a gear 14 on the trunnion 4, and an idler 15 meshing with the gears 13 and 14.

It will be understood that the main drive shaft 6 extends across the machine, and that there is a train of gears on each end. The belt shifting mechanism, which is of usual construction and fully described in the application referred to, comprises a shifter head 16, mounted on guides 17, sustained by a bracket 18 on the tub, and suitably connected by belt loops. with the belts 10 and 11, as shown in Fig. 2. The rock shaft 19 is mounted for endwise movement in the bracket 18, and is connected at its other end with the head 16. A. cam head 20 is fixed to the rock shaft 19, and is adapted to c0- 0 rate with lugs 21, on the bracket 18, to

ift the belts in neutral position, and is pro vlded at its forward edge with a. recess adapted to engage a pin on the shifting lever 26, which is oscillated by suitable mechanism connected with and driven from by the controlling mechanism in a manner hereinafter to be described. 7

I Mounted on the tub is a bracket 30, having a bearing lug 31, in which is pivoted an arm 32, having a spherical head 33, beararm 26, and shift the shifting head 16 to neutral position. This arm is provided with a grip 37, for manual operation, and is provided with a toe 38, adapted for engagement by a latch 39, ivoted on the bracket and normally move in a counter clockwise direction by a spring 40. n

An outlet ipe 45 is provided with a valve 46 on a rod 4 which is connected to one end of a lever 48, pivoted intermediate its ends on a lug 49, formedon the bracket 30, while the other end of this lever is connected by a link 50, with one arm of a bell-crank lever ivoted in a lug 52 on the bracket 30.

e bracket is provided with standards 55 and 56, supporting a guide 57 ,and also a threaded shaft 58. A spring 54 mounted between a shoulder on shaft 58 and the standard 55, acts to frictionally retain this shaft.

Mounted to slide on the guide 57 and the shaft 58 is a carriage 59 which, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is provided with threaded semi-circular jaws 60, adapted to engage the screw thread on the shaft 58, these jaws being pivoted intermediate their ends, and having handles 61, between Which is interposed a spring 62 tending to keep the jaws in engagement with the thread on the shaft.

When the handles or arms 61are moved toward each other, the jaws are sepafrom its seat, and open the drain. ,It Will,-

of course, be understood that the weight of the rod 47 is sufficient to close the valve. The standards 55 and 56 have mounted thereon, a scale 67, cotiperating with a suitable indicator on the carriage 59.

Fixed to the shaft 58 is a ratchet 68, engaged by a pawl 69, on the arm 70, mounted to oscillate on the shaft 58, and having an arm 71 provided with an adjustable slot72, engaged by a block 73 on a link 74,,co'nnected at its lower endto the crank 75 on the trunnion 4. The link 74 is in sections, which are connected by a sprin 76.

The carriage 59 has mounte thereon, a

casing 80, in which is mounted a dial 81, having a hand wheel 82, and cotiperating with a pointer on the casing, as shown in Fig. 5. This dial has also fixed thereto, a ratchet 83, cotiperating with a pawl 84, pivoted at 85 on the bracket 30. This pawl has a stop 86 hearing against the bracket, and is moved to the left, Fig. 5, by a spring 87. It will be seen by reference to Fig. 5, that when the carriage is moved to the left, the ratchet will engage the pawl to rotate the dial to the extent of one tooth.

The bracket 30 has mounted thereon a bracket 89, provided with aslot 91, in which is adjustably clamped a support 92, carrying a bell 93, engaged by a striker 94, on an arm 95, pivoted on a bracket 90, extending from the case 80 and moved toward the bell by a spring 96. This arm 95 is engaged bya finger 97, mounted on an arm98, loosely mounted on the shaft 58. The

spring 99 holds the finger 97 against the pin 100. A pin 101 connects thearm 98 with the arm 70.

The operation of .the mechanism will .be obvious from the disclosure in the application referred to. After a lot of clothes has been placed in the machine, the carriage 59 is moved to a position with respect to the scale 67, corresponding to the time of the laundrying operation. The arm 32 is now pulled forwardly, thereby causin the latch 59 to engage under the toe 38, an latch the arm in position with the cam head 20, thrown to a position to make the connection with the shifting arm 26/ The drum is now driven alternately in opposite directions by the driving mechanism, and the pawl and ratchet connection between the trunnion 4 and the actuator shaft 58 for the timing mechanism, will rotate this shaft step by step, and thereby cause the carriage 59 to move slowly to the right, Fig. 1. When the carriage engages the lug 66, the valve 46 will be raised from its scat, thereby opening the outlet and draining the tub. Thereafter, the pin 63 will engage the tail 64 of the latch 39, so as to release the arm 32 and cause the spring 41 to move the cam head 20 out'of engagement with the shifter arm, and into engagement with the lugs 21, so as to shift the belts to neutral. The connections between the carriage and the actuated devices are so constructed and proportioned that the tub outlet will b opened a suficient length of time prior to the stopping of the mechanism, so as to cause the tub to be substantially drained before the drum is stopped.

As the carriage 59 approaches its right end limit of movement, Fig. 1, the arm or finger 95 will move into the path of the os-' cillating finger 97, thereby causing the striker 94 to strike the bell 93, as soon as they arrive opposite one another, and sigpast the bell, the sound will gradually increase in volume to a maximum, and will then gradually decrease until silenced when the bell is passed. This signaling mechanism can be thrown out. of action by takingfthe screw pin out of the arm 98,

l hen the carriage 59 is reset for the next washing operation, the ratchet 83 will engage the pawl 84, and rotate the dial 81 through the extent of one tooth, so as to 7 indicate the next laundrying operation.

The carriage 59 is driven from the shaft 4 connected with the drum through the mechanism heretofore described, so that this carriage, which. constitutes a part of the controlling mechanism, is driven in accordance with the laundrying mechanism, comprising the drum 3 and is, therefore, operable after a predetermined laundrying operation to stop the operation of said laundrying mechanism, v

As pointed out bove, the mechanism must be adapted to a particular laundry machine, and to the particular speed at which the drum of the laundry machine is operated. lln order to provide for this, the adjustable connection between the trunnion andthe pawl is provided. By shifting thebloclrs 73 along the slots 72, in accordance with the 'revdlutions per minute of the drum, as noted on the arm 71, this connecting mechanism is adapted to the speed of the particular washing machine, for it will be obvious that by moving the block 73 to the right, Fig. 7, the oscillation of the arm is increased. By adjustment of the pin 63 in the carriage 59, the interval between the opening of the drain and the stopping of the drum can be varied to suit conditions. Means is, therefore, provided for adjusting the relation between the laundrying and controlling mechanism by the adjustment of the actuating means. The spring 76 is provided for the purpose of preventing breakage, should the timing mechanism stick. This spring forms a connection which will yield.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the details Without departing from the spirit of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that .this invention is not to be limited to the specific construction shown and described.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is:

1. A controlling device adapted to be attached to a laundrying mechanism having driving mechanism therefor, said device comprising automatic mechanism, adaptcd to be connected with and operated by said driving mechanism and operating after a. predetermined operation of said laundry-mg mechanism to definitely stop the operation of said laundrying mechamsm, and means for adjustin the connection between said driving mec anism and said automatic mechanism.

2. A. controlling device adapted to beattached to a laundrying mechanism having driving mechanism therefor, said device comprising automatic mechanism, adapted. to be connected with and operated. by said driving mechanism and operating after a.

predetermined operation of said laundrying mechanism to definitely stop tlie'opera tion of said laundrying mechanism, means for adjusting said automatic mechanism, and means for adjusting the connection between said driving mechanism and said antomatic mechanism.

3. A. controlling device adapted to be attached to a laundrying mechanism having driving mechanism therefor, said device com-= prising automatic mechanism, adapted to be connected with and operated by said. driving mechanism and operating after a predc termined operation of said laundrying mechanism to definitely stop the operation of said laundrying mechanism, and means adapted to compensate for difierent rates of operation of diii'erent laundrying mechanisms. v

4. A controlling device adapted to be at tached to a laundry tub having a drain, and

rovided with laundryi'ng mechanism hav= mg driving mechanism therefor, said device comprising automatic mechanism, adapted. to be connected with and operated by said driving mechanism, and operating atter a predetermined operation of said laundrying mechanism, adapted to open the drain, and means adapted to compensate for difi erent rates of operation of different laundrying mechanisms.

5. A controlling device adapted to be attached to a laundry tub having a drain, and. provided with laundrying mechanism having driving mechanism therefor, said device comprising automatic mechanism, adapted to be connected with and operated by said driving mechanism, and operating after a predetermined operation of said laundrying mechanism, adapted to open the drain,

and means for adjustin the connection between said driving mec anism and said automatic mechanism.

6. A controlling device adapted to be attached to a laundry tub having a drain, and provided with laundrying mechanism havingdriving mechanism therefor, said device comprising automatic mechanism, adapted to be'connected with and operated by Said driving mechanism, and operating after a predetermined operation of said laundr g mechanism, to open the drain and definitely stop the operation of said laundrying mechanism, and means adapted to com ensate' to he connectedwith and operated by said driving mechanism, and operating after a predetermined operation ofsa-id laundrying mechanism, to open the drain and definitely stop the operation of said iaundrying mechanism after the tub is drained, and means adapted to compensate for difierent rates of operation of different laundrying mechanisms.

8.. In a machine of the class described, a laundry tub having an outlet, valve mechanism therefor, laundrying mechanism c0-' operating with said tub, drlvmg mechanism therefor, means for controlling the operalaundry tub having an outlet, valve mecha-c nism therefor, laundrying mechanism 00- operating With said tub, driving mechanism therefor, means for controlling the operation of said valve mechanism and of said driving mechanism, adapted to open said outlet and thereafter stop the operation of said laundrying mechanism, and means for adjusting said controlling mechanism to vary the time interval between the opening of said outlet and the stopping of the operation of said laundrying mechanism.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature this 15th day of June, 1917,

THEODORE BIRKENMAIER. 

